Tag Archives: LaMarcus Aldridge

The Portland Trailblazers were a struggling franchise during the first decade of the 2000s. They had some success near the turn of the millennium but had the bad boy, “Jailblazer” image. In a stacked Western Conference, they didn’t have the players or the image. Their best player, Brandon Roy, was one of the top young stars in the league, but his career was stopped short because of chronic knee issues. They were flat out, an unlucky franchise. They did have a young power forward to build around though. LaMarcus Aldridge does not get the attention that other big stars in big markets get in the NBA. He doesn’t even get the full attention from the media as the star of Portland and that instead goes to young, dynamic point guard Damian Lillard. The three-time All-Star is one of the top players in the league and the focal point of the Portland Trailblazers’ scouting report. Heading into a contract year, he is worth a maximum deal as the Blazers look to continue their surge in the Western Conference.

LaMarcus Aldridge by the numbers

When looking at LaMarcus Aldridge, you see a long, lean power forward. He strikes many as a finesse player based on his 6-foot-11, 250-pound frame. After finishing his freshman season at the University of Texas, Aldridge declared for the NBA Draft and was the second overall pick in 2006 by the Chicago Bulls. After a rookie season in which he didn’t play a ton of minutes, Aldridge announced his presence in year two. He averaged over 17 points per game, and since then he hasn’t averaged below that number. He is the top mid-range jump shooter among big men in the league. LaMarcus Aldridge can hit turnaround jumpers, face-up jumpers and is very difficult to block because of his high release point. From 2010-2012, he shot over 50 per cent from the field and averaged over 21 points per game. In 2012, he made his first All-Star appearance and had made three straight trips to the All-Star game.

This past season, LaMarcus Aldridge took an even further step forward in his development. Portland won 54 games during the regular season and made the playoffs where they advanced to the second round of the Western Conference playoffs before losing to the eventual champion San Antonio Spurs. Teaming with Lillard, Aldridge helped form one of the top inside-outside duos in the game today. LaMarcus Aldridge averaged career highs in points, assists, rebounds and free throw percentage. With his 23-plus point per game average and double-digit rebounding each night, he was a consistent double-double threat, a rarity in the game today. Also, LaMarcus Aldridge is an excellent free throw shooter, hitting over 80 per cent from the charity stripe which makes his offensive game even more difficult to defend. While he has a thinner frame, he also averaged a block and a steal per game.

One big knock on LaMarcus Aldridge is his durability, and he missed several games this season with various injuries. LaMarcus Aldridge has played in over 74 games per season in five of his eight NBA seasons and has never played less than 55 in a season. If the Portland Trail Blazers don’t offer him a max deal when he becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer, some other team will. He is one of the best big men in the NBA and is not even 30 yet. If Rashard Lewis can get a max deal in his career, LaMarcus Aldridge is sure as heck worth the price tag that comes along with his services. Chris M.

The 2013-2014 season has been a roller coaster ride for Rip City. After reaching the top of the tough Western Conference early in the season, the Portland Trail Blazers fell to the fifth spot and they also saw their chances to make it to the top reducing. The Blazers entered the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs as the underdogs in their matchups against the Houston Rockets but they managed to eliminate them after six games. Now, they are being dominated by the veteran group of the San Antonio Spurs and their playoff trip might soon reach its end.

However, despite the failure to top the San Antonio Spurs, a task that is of course very difficult for any team around the league, the Blazers’ course during the 2013-2014 campaign is anything but bad. In fact, even if Rip City exits the playoffs in the second round, the entire city should feel proud about this team. After everything, the Blazers have gone through and after all those top-player severe injuries, Portland has found a way to turn things around.

In addition, the future looks really bright for this team, given that it has now found the Big Three around which it can build. Damian Lillard showcased his leadership skills not just during the playoffs but even throughout the regular season. The versatile point guard has already reached a superstar level and he is just 23 years old. He and LaMarcus Aldridge are under contract for the next season, with the Blazers holding a team option, which will most probably exercise for the season after and also a qualifying offer for the 2015 – 2016 season. Nicolas Batum is also under contract till the end of the 2015 – 2016 season but what is even more important is the fact that something seems to be changing in Rip City.

The Blazers are finally starting to find their way to success and whilst they still haven’t formed an elite team, they are certainly on the right track. Portland has found its new franchise face, in Damian Lillard and also a truly capable star veteran, in LaMarcus Aldridge, who might just be the perfect fit alongside Lillard. Nicolas Batum is the third wheel of the Blazers’ engine and several analysts compare them to the San Antonio Spurs, stating that the Blazers are a younger version of San Antonio. I couldn’t agree more with this statement and I would go a step further, stating that Damian Lillard will soon have the same essence to Rip City like Kobe Bryant has to the Los Angeles Lakers. Yes, he is that good.

So, summing up, there is absolutely no reason for Blazers fans to feel disappointed with their favorite team this year. The Blazers did what they had to do. They went as far as they could. Now, the fun part begins, as the team will try to further improve during the postseason. We should all expect the Blazers to stay in the forefront of the NBA for the next seasons.

The NBA preseason is coming to a close, and most fans are gearing up for the new tip of the 2013-14 regular season. I have predicted that the Portland Trail Blazers tickets are going to have a breakout year. I was hoping to do some research on the preseason stats of this Trail Blazers team, but it does not look as if that is going to happen. The only stat I can find is the overall preseason record for the Trail Blazers. At this point, they are 4-2 with a final preseason game against the Golden State Warriors tickets on October 24th. After six preseason games, there is not a single website on the Internet that has team or player stats. Am I missing something?

Blake Griffin had 21 points and 14 rebounds – his seventh double-double in eight games – as the Clippers rallied from an 18-point, third-quarter deficit to halt a six-game losing streak in Portland.

Paul was scoreless on 0-for-7 shooting through three quarters, but he scored nine points in a 12-2 run as the Clippers overtook the weary Blazers, who were playing for the third time in as many nights.

Mo Williams hit Los Angeles’ first 3-pointer with 3:50 to play to claim the lead for good and Paul followed with another shot from behind the arc for a 70-66 lead with 3:08 remaining.

Jamal Crawford and Nicolas Batum scored 19 points apiece for the Portland Trail Blazers, which scored only 28 points in the second half and lost fourth straight at home for the first time since January 2007.

The Trail Blazers had scored the first seven points of the third quarter to build its biggest lead at 50-32, but the Clippers answered with a 20-10 spurt to get within 60-52 entering the final 12 minutes.

Batum scored 15 first-quarter points to get Portland off to a quick start en route to taking a 43-32 halftime lead.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Los Angeles scored a season-low 12 points in the second quarter. The 32 halftime points also were a season worst. … Portland is hoping that NBA All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge will be available for Saturday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks. Aldridge, who is dealing with a sprained ankle, is averaging a career-high 22.6 points per game. … The Clippers were 2 of 17 from behind the arc.